Sand cleaning tool

ABSTRACT

A tool that cleans debris from sand when pulled on the sand by a user. The tool includes a sieve and a handle. The handle is so positioned on the sieve so as to allow the sieve to have a working position for cleaning the debris from the sand when the tool is pulled on the sand by the user and a non-working position for not cleaning the debris from the sand when the tool is pulled on the sand by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cleaning tool, and more particularly,a sand cleaning tool.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for ground-debris cleaning devices have beenprovided in the prior art that will be described. Even though theseinnovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes towhich they address, however, they differ from the present invention.

A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,000,448, Issued on Sep. 19, 1961, toPlatt, et al. teaches a beach sand cleaning machine including a frame,wheels supporting the frame, a succession of rakes movably carried bythe frame and operable to successively enter and continuously comb astrip of the stand along which the machine is advanced, an apparatus formounting the rakes for movement into the sand and then upwardly toelevate debris separately from the sand, apparatus for actuating therakes in such movement, and a hopper carried by the frame and positionedto receive the debris elevated by the rakes. The rakes are formed offlexible tines having an essentially comb arrangement and areunencumbered and spaced to pass the sand so that substantially none ofthe sand is elevated to the hopper. The tines have looped inner portionsconnected to the mounting apparatus,

A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,831, Issued on Sep. 1, 1964, toMcConnell teaches a rake for maintenance of sand traps and puttinggreens of golf courses. The rake includes a head including aninflexible, reticulate, and generally oblong body portion ofsubstantially concavo-convex shape in cross section. One edge of theconcavo-convex body portion is reversely bent to provide an extensionterminating in teeth adapted to penetrate and loosen the sand of a standtrap. The sand is rolled, by virtue of the reticulate construction ofthe body portion, to fluff and level the sand. A handle is fixed to thehead. The handle is disposed at such an angle to the head that theterminal teeth of the body portion are substantially vertical to theground. When the rake is held in position for use in a stand trap, therake is turned over to effect engagement of the convex portion of thereticulate and oblong body portion with the green. The handle extendsupwardly at approximately the same angle for the two different rakingoperations, thereby facilitating manipulation of the rake by the user.

A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,146, Issued on Sep. 7, 1976, toBerg teaches a beach cleaning apparatus that includes a generallyU-shaped bracket that opens downwardly, a handle attached to the bracketto manually pull the bracket forwardly, an open mesh bag, a fastenermechanism for releasably securing the adjacent parts of the mouthportion of the bag to the bracket, a knife blade extending between thelegs of the bracket, and a retainer bar secured to the bracket and knifeblade for retaining the lower edge portion of the mouth of the bagtherebetween. The mesh of the bag is of a size to permit passage of sandand small stones therethrough, but retain larger objects within the bag.

A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,690, Issued on May 9, 1989, toMontez teaches a hand tool having a tapered wedge head, an entrapmentmesh supported by a carriage structure and cantilevered from the wedgehead, and a handle adjustably coupled to the carriage structure. Thetapered wedge head ramps materials, such as sand and soil, into theentrapment mesh. The entrapment mesh is fixed to the carriage structureso that the face and opposed sides of the carriage structure are open.The entrapment mesh is cantilevered from the wedge head to preventcontact of the mesh with the ground.

A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,122, Issued on Apr. 27, 1993, toWong teaches a combination sand rake and shovel providing the ability toclean sandy with a tool having two configurations. When configured as ashovel, the debris may be lifted directly from the sand. When configuredas a rake, the debris can be screened in a direction parallel to thegrounds surface.

A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,479, Issued on Feb. 22, 2005, toOhzeki, et al. teaches a beach cleaner for recovering waste while movingin a towed state by a traction vehicle. A grating-like portion scoops upwaste present in front of the beach cleaner as the beach cleaner ismoved and a reticulate portion that is formed behind the grating-likeportion to hold waste. As the beach cleaner is moved, waste present infront of the beach cleaner is scooped up onto the grating-like portionand is held with the reticulate portion formed behind the grating-likeportion. Sand that is scooped up together with the waste is allowed todrop through the gaps in the grating-like portion.

A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 8,689,533, Issued on Apr. 8, 2014, toAbughazaleh teaches a lawn rake or lawn rake attachment providing acapture structure that cooperates with the tines of a lawn rake toincrease the collection of small leaves and debris with each stroke ofthe rake. More specifically, the capture structure provides a broadsurface, preferably, spanning the width of the rake and positioned aneffective distance trailing behind the rake tine structure. In operationof the lawn rake equipped with the capture structure, during the courseof a stroke of the rake the rake tines stir up the small leaves in or onthe lawn grass. The stirring-up action propels the leaves a distance upabove the ground before they fall back on the rake stroke trail. Thetrailing rake capture structure intercepts the airborne leaves and holdsthem at its surface while the rake is in a forward raking motion.

AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, Article published on Mar. 23, 2011 by Malgari teachesa manual tool to clean sandy areas. The manual tool solves the problemof keeping a sandy home-front clean and safe. One sweep makes either abeach club ready to welcome customers or an isolated beach clean.

It is apparent now that numerous innovations for ground-debris cleaningdevices have been provided in the prior art that adequate for variouspurposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable forthe specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly,they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention asheretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a sand cleaning toolthat avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a sand cleaningtool that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a sandcleaning tool that is simple to use.

BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is toprovide a tool that cleans debris from sand when pulled on the sand by auser. The tool includes a sieve and a handle. The handle is sopositioned on the sieve so as to allow the sieve to have a workingposition for cleaning the debris from the sand when the tool is pulledon the sand by the user and a non-working position for not cleaning thedebris from the sand when the tool is pulled on the sand by the user.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the presentinvention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, both as to its construction and its method of operation,together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be bestunderstood from the following description of the specific embodimentswhen read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view an embodiment of a sandcleaning tool being towed behind a all-terrain vehicle and accordinglycleaning a sand surface;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view an embodiment of the sandcleaning tool being pulled by a human and accordingly cleaning a sandsurface;

FIG. 3 is a an enlarged view of the area enclosed in the dotted curveindicated by arrow 3 in FIG. 2 showing the sand cleaning tool in greaterdetail;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view taken in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view taken in the direction of arrow 6 in FIG.3;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the sand cleaning toolready to be tipped over for engaging in a sand cleaning procedure;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the sand cleaning toolafter being tipped over and accordingly engaging in a sand cleaningprocedure;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the sand cleaningtool being shaken after a sand cleaning procedure to separate debrisfrom any sand left in the sand cleaning tool and return the sand to thecleaned area;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating debris capturedby the sand cleaning tool being emptied in to a trash container; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the sand cleaningtool being returned to a position convenient for towing and transportingwithout cleaning any sand surface.

A MARSHALING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING Introduction

-   20 tool of embodiments of present invention for cleaning debris 22    from sand 24 when pulled on sand 24 by user 26-   22 debris-   24 sand-   26 user

Configuration of Tool 20

-   28 sieve-   30 handle-   32 axle-   34 pair of ends of axle 32-   36 pair of wheels-   38 pair of balloon tires of pair of wheels 36, respectively, for    facilitating emptying out debris 22 from sieve 28 by bouncing pair    of balloon tires 38 of pair of wheels 36, respectively, against    debris receptacle-   39 comb for combing sand as debris 22 is being removed from sand 24

Specific Configuration of Sieve 28

-   40 frame of sieve 28-   42 mesh of sieve 28-   44 pair of U-shaped end rods of frame 40 of sieve 28-   46 U-shaped intermediate rod of frame 40 of sieve 28-   48 pair of straight side rods of frame 40 of sieve 28-   50 pair of straight transverse rods of frame 40 of sieve 28-   52 open mouth of sieve 28 for scooping up sand 24 with debris 22    therein when tool 20 is in working position thereof and pulled on    sand 24 by user 26-   54 pair of side portions of mesh 42 of sieve 28-   56 main portion of mesh 42 of sieve 28

Specific Configuration of Handle 30

-   58 proximal end of handle 30-   60 distal end of handle 30

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Introduction

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate likeparts, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tool of the embodiments ofthe present invention is shown generally at 20 for cleaning debris 22from sand 24 when pulled on the sand 24 by a user 26.

The Configuration of the Tool 20

The configuration of the tool 20 can best be seen in FIGS. 3-7, and assuch, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The tool 20 comprises a sieve 28 and a handle 30. The handle 30 is sopositioned on the sieve 28 so as to allow the sieve 28 to have a workingposition for cleaning the debris 22 from the sand 24 when the tool 20 ispulled on the sand 24 by the user 26 and a non-working position for notcleaning the debris 22 from the sand 24 when the tool 20 is pulled onthe sand 24 by the user 26.

The tool 20 further comprises an axle 32.

The axle 32 is fixedly attached to the sieve 28, and has a pair of ends34.

The tool 20 further comprises a pair of wheels 36.

The pair of wheels 36 are rotatably disposed on the pair of ends 34 ofthe axle 32, respectively.

The pair of wheels 36 include a pair of balloon tires 38, respectively.The pair of balloon tires 38 of the pair of wheels 36, respectively, arefor facilitating emptying out the debris 22 from the sieve 28 bybouncing the pair of balloon tires 38 of the pair of wheels 36,respectively, against a debris receptacle.

The tool 20 further comprises a comb 39.

The comb 39 depends pivotally from the sieve 28, and is for combing thesand 24 as the debris 22 is being removed from the sand 24.

The Specific Configuration of the Sieve 28

The sieve 28 is generally semi-cylindrically shaped, has a pair oflateral bounds, and includes a frame 40 and a mesh 42.

The frame 40 of the sieve 28 includes a pair of U-shaped end rods 44.

The pair of U-shaped end rods 44 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28 arealigned with each other, are parallel to each other, have lowermostpoints fixedly attached to the axle 32, and contribute to the pair oflateral bounds of the sieve 28. The frame 40 of the sieve 28 furtherincludes a U-shaped intermediate rod 46.

The U-shaped intermediate rod 46 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28 isaligned with, is parallel to, and is disposed midway between, the pairof U-shaped end rods 44 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28, and has alowermost point fixedly attached to the axle 32.

The frame 40 of the sieve 28 further includes a pair of straight siderods 48.

The pair of straight side rods 48 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28 arealigned with each other, are parallel to each other, and are fixedlyattached to, and close off, the pair of U-shaped end rods 44 of theframe 40 of the sieve 28, respectively.

The frame 40 of the sieve 28 further includes a pair of straighttransverse rods 50.

The pair of straight transverse rods 50 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28are aligned with each other, are parallel to each other, and are fixedlyattached to the pair of straight side rods 48 of the frame 40 of thesieve 28, respectively, so as to define therewith an open mouth 52. Theopen mouth 52 of the sieve 28 is for scooping up the sand 24 with thedebris 22 therein when the tool 20 is in the working position thereofand pulled on the sand 24 by the user 26.

The mesh 42 of the sieve 28 includes a pair of side portions 54.

The pair of side portions 54 of the mesh 42 of the sieve 28 cover thepair of U-shaped end rods 44 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28,respectively.

The mesh 42 of the sieve 28 further includes a main portion 56.

The main portion 56 of the mesh 42 of the sieve 28 extends from onestraight transverse rod 50 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28 to the otherstraight transverse rod 50 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28, and togetherwith the pair of side portions 54 of the mesh 42 of the sieve 28, coverthe sieve 28 entirely, except for the open mouth 52 of the sieve 28.

The Specific Configuration of the Handle 30

The handle 30 is straight, slender, elongated, telescopic for lengthadjustment, and has a proximal end 58 and a distal end 60.

The distal end 60 of the handle 30 is disposed on one straighttransverse rod 50 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28, and the handle 30extends fixedly outwardly therefrom so as to offset the handle 30relative to the axle 32 so as to allow transition between the workingposition of the sieve 28 and the non-working position of the sieve 28 bymerely pivoting the handle 30.

The distal end 60 of the handle 30 is disposed at the U-shapedintermediate rod 46 of the frame 40 of the sieve 28.

The proximal end 58 of the handle 30 is T-shaped for facilitatinggripping the handle 30 by the user 26 when the user 26 pulls the tool20.

Method of Using the Tool 20

The method of using the tool 20 can best be seen in FIGS. 8-12, and assuch, will be discussed with reference thereto.

-   STEP 1: As shown in FIG. 8, pivot the tool 20, by way of the handle    30, so that the open mouth 52 of the sieve 28 faces toward a    direction of travel;-   STEP 2: As shown in FIG. 9, pull the tool 20 in the direction of    travel, with the open mouth 52 of the sieve 28 engaging into the    sand 24 and capturing the debris 22;-   STEP 3: As shown in FIG. 10, shake the tool 20 up-and-down so that    any sand 24 left in the sieve 28 will fall out leaving only the    debris 22 in the sieve 28;-   STEP 4: As shown in FIG. 11, dump the debris 22 out of the sieve 28    into a debris receptacle, by bouncing the pair of balloon tires 38    of the pair of wheels 36, respectively, against the debris    receptacle; and-   STEP 5: As shown in FIG. 12, pivot the tool 20, by way of the handle    30, so that the open mouth 52 of the sieve 28 faces upwardly and    ready for non-cleaning travel.

Impressions

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments ofa sand cleaning tool, accordingly it is not limited to the detailsshown, since it will be understood that various omissions,modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of thedevice illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in theart without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully revealthe gist of the present invention that others can, by applying currentknowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omittingfeatures that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitutecharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A tool for cleaning debris from sand whenpulled on the sand by a user, comprising: a) a sieve; and b) a handle;wherein said handle is so positioned on said sieve so as to allow saidsieve to have a working position for cleaning the debris from the sandwhen said tool is pulled on the sand by the user and a non-workingposition for not cleaning the debris from the sand when said tool ispulled on the sand by the user.
 2. The tool of claim 1, furthercomprising an axle.
 3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said axle is fixedlyattached to said sieve.
 4. The tool of claim 2, wherein said axle has apair of ends.
 5. The tool of claim 4, further comprising a pair ofwheels.
 6. The tool of claim 5, wherein said pair of wheels arerotatably disposed on said pair of ends of said axle, respectively. 7.The tool of claim 5, wherein said pair of wheels include a pair ofballoon tires, respectively; and wherein said pair of balloon tires ofsaid pair of wheels, respectively, are for facilitating emptying out thedebris from said sieve by bouncing said pair of balloon tires of saidpair of wheels, respectively, against a debris receptacle.
 8. The toolof claim 1, wherein said sieve is generally semi-cylindrically shaped.9. The tool of claim 2, wherein said sieve has a pair of lateral bounds.10. The tool of claim 9, wherein said sieve includes a frame.
 11. Thetool of claim 10, wherein said sieve includes a mesh.
 12. The tool ofclaim 11, wherein said frame of said sieve includes a pair of U-shapedend rods.
 13. The tool of claim 12, wherein said pair of U-shaped endrods of said frame of said sieve are aligned with each other.
 14. Thetool of claim 12, wherein said pair of U-shaped end rods of said frameof said sieve are parallel to each other.
 15. The tool of claim 12,wherein said pair of U-shaped end rods of said frame of said sieve havelowermost points fixedly attached to said axle.
 16. The tool of claim12, wherein said pair of U-shaped end rods of said frame of said sievecontribute to said pair of lateral bounds of said sieve.
 17. The tool ofclaim 12, wherein said frame of said sieve includes a U-shapedintermediate rod.
 18. The tool of claim 17, wherein said U-shapedintermediate rod of said frame of said sieve is aligned with said pairof U-shaped end rods of said frame of said sieve.
 19. The tool of claim17, wherein said U-shaped intermediate rod of said frame of said sieveis parallel to said pair of U-shaped end rods of said frame of saidsieve.
 20. The tool of claim 17, wherein said U-shaped intermediate rodof said frame of said sieve is disposed midway between said pair ofU-shaped end rods of said frame of said sieve.
 21. The tool of claim 17,wherein said U-shaped intermediate rod of said frame of said sieve has alowermost point fixedly attached to said axle.
 22. The tool of claim 12,wherein said frame of said sieve includes a pair of straight side rods.23. The tool of claim 22, wherein said pair of straight side rods ofsaid frame of said sieve are aligned with each other.
 24. The tool ofclaim 22, wherein said pair of straight side rods of said frame of saidsieve are parallel to each other.
 25. The tool of claim 22, wherein saidpair of straight side rods of said frame of said sieve are fixedlyattached to said pair of U-shaped end rods of said frame of said sieve,respectively.
 26. The tool of claim 22, wherein said pair of straightside rods of said frame of said sieve close off said pair of U-shapedend rods of said frame of said sieve, respectively.
 27. The tool ofclaim 22, wherein said frame of said sieve includes a pair of straighttransverse rods.
 28. The tool of claim 27, wherein said pair of straighttransverse rods of said frame of said sieve are aligned with each other.29. The tool of claim 27, wherein said pair of straight transverse rodsof said frame of said sieve are parallel to each other.
 30. The tool ofclaim 27, wherein said pair of straight transverse rods of said frame ofsaid sieve are fixedly attached to said pair of straight side rods ofsaid frame of said sieve, respectively, so as to define therewith anopen mouth; and wherein said open mouth of said sieve is for scooping upthe sand with the debris therein when said tool is in said workingposition thereof and pulled on the sand by the user.
 31. The tool ofclaim 30, wherein said mesh of said sieve includes a pair of sideportions.
 32. The tool of claim 31, wherein said pair of side portionsof said mesh of said sieve cover said pair of U-shaped end rods of saidframe of said sieve, respectively.
 33. The tool of claim 31, whereinsaid mesh of said sieve includes a main portion.
 34. The tool of claim33, wherein said main portion of said mesh of said sieve extends fromone straight transverse rod of said frame of said sieve to the otherstraight transverse rod of said frame of said sieve.
 35. The tool ofclaim 33, wherein said main portion of said mesh of said sieve and saidpair of side portions of said mesh of said sieve cover said sieveentirely, except for said open mouth of said sieve.
 36. The tool ofclaim 1, further comprising a comb; and wherein said comb is for combingthe sand as the debris is being removed from the sand.
 37. The tool ofclaim 36, wherein said comb depends pivotally from said sieve.
 38. Thetool of claim 1, wherein said handle is straight.
 39. The tool of claim1, wherein said handle is slender.
 40. The tool of claim 1, wherein saidhandle is elongated.
 41. The tool of claim 1, wherein said handle istelescopic for length adjustment.
 42. The tool of claim 1, wherein saidhandle has a proximal end.
 43. The tool of claim 17, wherein said handlehas a distal end.
 44. The tool of claim 27, wherein said distal end ofsaid handle is disposed on one straight transverse rod of said frame ofsaid sieve.
 45. The tool of claim 44, wherein said handle extendsfixedly outwardly from said one straight transverse rod of said frame ofsaid sieve so as to offset said handle relative to said axle so as toallow transition between said working position of said sieve and saidnon-working position of said sieve by merely pivoting said handle. 46.The tool of claim 43, wherein said distal end of said handle is disposedat said U-shaped intermediate rod of said frame of said sieve.
 47. Thetool of claim 42, wherein said proximal end of said handle is T-shapedfor facilitating gripping said handle by the user when the user pullssaid tool.
 48. A method of using a tool for cleaning debris from sandwhen pulled on the sand by a user, comprising the steps of: a) pivotingthe tool, by way of a handle of the tool, so that an open mouth of asieve of the tool faces toward a direction of travel; b) pulling thetool in the direction of travel, with the open mouth of the sieveengaging into the sand and capturing the debris; c) shaking the toolup-and-down so that any sand left in the sieve will fall out leavingonly the debris in the sieve; d) dumping the debris out of the sieveinto a debris receptacle, by bouncing a pair of balloon tires of a pairof wheels of the tool, respectively, against the debris receptacle; ande) pivoting the tool, by way of the handle, so that the open mouth ofthe sieve faces upwardly and ready for non-cleaning travel.